…that got me thinking about how we think of ourselves in terms of being business owners. Many of us are what would be classified as a small business entity – some of us are considered large. Wherever you are in your journey, everyone – and I mean everyone – started out small. Either a small germ of an idea in your head, a small workspace, a small desk – we all pretty much started out small. (except for Elon Musk and the Kardashians but they are very specific examples of a culture driven by well, anyway).

So we understand the pains and challenges of small business – how that business is often the sole income for a household. Not just a household but a family. A family that depends on that income to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. AND, better yet, that small, local business/family then turns around and spends that money locally as well. One study found each $100 spent at local independents generated $45 of secondary local spending, compared to $14 for a big-box chain. It creates a ripple effect that has so much impact with relatively little effort.

And take a look at the stats for local vs. chain restaurants – wow:

While I absolutely love how global we’ve become, I also want to remind everyone that, while Amazon – and many others – are just ‘da bomb’ for offering everything and anything, do consider trying to find what you’re looking for locally first. If you can’t find it locally then, by all means, consider online shopping sources like Amazon. Remember, “Independent retailers return more than three times as much money per dollar of sales than chain competitors.”

After all, the overused but still absolutely true cliches still apply – “Don’t forget where you came from”, “Give someone a hand up, not a handout”, and my favorite, “It’s all the little things you do, every day, when no one’s watching, and with no anticipation of gain – that make all the difference in someone’s world.” (The Librarian)

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